Overview

Downfall is a two-player strategy game where each player tries to be the first to move all five of their colored disks from the top of a vertical frame to the tray at the bottom, in the correct order (1 through 5). The frame has five slotted dials on each side that players twist to move disks downward, but each dial turn also affects your opponent’s disks.

Components

• Plastic base
• 2-sided plastic frame with 5 dials
• 20 disks in 4 colors (5 per color, numbered 1-5)
• 4 rubber feet
• Instructions

Setup

1. Place the 4 rubber feet into the sockets on the bottom of the base.
2. Place the base right-side-up on the table.
3. Attach the upright frame by positioning the latches into the holes in the base, then push the frame down until the latches click into place.
4. Place the game so that neither player can see the opponent’s side.
5. Set all dials to the starting position with slots lined up.
6. Fill the chute with your 5 disks in 1-2-3-4-5 order, starting with “1.”

Turn Structure

Players alternate turns. On your turn:

1. Turn any one of the 5 dials slowly in either direction, as far as you like.
2. You may continue turning the dial even after a disk has fallen through or out of it.
3. A disk may fall into one of the two slots next to it (e.g., from dial 2 to dial 1 or dial 3, from dial 3 to dial 2 or dial 4).

Actions

The only action is turning one dial per turn. Strategic considerations:

• Each dial turn affects both sides of the frame, so moving your disks also moves your opponent’s disks.
• As a player turns a dial, they unknowingly help or hinder their opponent.
• Opening the gates on one side closes them on the other.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Winning: You win if you are the first player to get all of your disks into the tray in the correct order: 1, then 2, then 3, then 4, then 5.

Losing by wrong order: If you let one of your disks fall into the tray in the wrong order (e.g., 1, then 3 instead of 2), you immediately lose the game.

Alternative win: You also win if you force your opponent’s disks to fall into their tray in the wrong order.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• You may never turn the dial that your opponent has just moved (i.e., the bottom dial, dial 5). Exception: When your very last disk reaches the bottom dial (dial 5), you may turn it even if your opponent just moved it.
• Keep a close watch on your opponent! If they turn a dial, it might move one of your disks without you knowing.
• A disk that falls can go to either of the two adjacent dials.

Alternative Games

• Beginner Level: Disks can drop out in ANY order. First to get all disks out wins.
• Play with 10 Disks Each: Use two colors per player. Disks can drop in jumbled order, but each color must drop in 1-2-3-4-5 order.
• Disks in Reverse Order: Set up starting with each color in reverse (5-4-3-2-1). Must still get them out in 1-2-3-4-5 order.
• Disks in Random Order: Set up randomly. Must still exit in 1-2-3-4-5 order.
• Team Play (4 players): Form teams of two. Fill BOTH chutes on each side. Players alternate turns. Teammates may consult each other.

Player Reference

Turn: Turn 1 dial in either direction, any amount.

Win Condition: All 5 disks out in order 1-2-3-4-5.

Instant Loss: Any disk exits in wrong order.

Key Rule: Cannot turn the dial your opponent just turned (exception: last disk on dial 5).